Early on
a misty morning, as one approaches the small wooden church and hears the
prayerfully chanted melodies rising to God, one might imagine oneself
in a 16th century Carpathian village rather than in 20th century California,
a few miles from Highway 101. At Mt. Tabor Monastery in Redwood Valley,
the traditions of Eastern Christianity - ancient yet very much alive -
are lived and celebrated by the monks in a simple lifestyle of prayer,
work, and brotherly love.

Mt. Tabor (or, more officially, Holy Transfiguration Monastery) belongs
to the Ukrainian Catholic diocese of Chicago and has been in Redwood Valley
for about 30 years. It was founded by Archimandrite Boniface Luykx, a
recognized theologian, liturgist and, most importantly, monk. He was deeply
aware of the need for the establishment of Eastern monasticism in the
Catholic Church in America. Therefore, he set about building up the "family
of Jesus" which now lives at Mt. Tabor, relying on the providence
of God and the prayers of our heavenly Mother Mary, the "Landlady"
of the monastery.